the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
"After counting the apples in her basket, she realized there were exactly four left after eating three earlier."
The digit or figure 4; an occurrence thereof.
"The number four appeared twice on his lottery ticket, giving him two chances to win."
In plain English: Four is the number that comes right after three and before five.
"The four winners were announced at the end of the race."
Usage: Use "four" as a noun to refer specifically to the numeral symbol itself, such as when discussing digits on a clock or numbers on a scoreboard. Avoid using it as a standalone noun to mean the concept of quantity, which requires phrases like "the number four."
A numerical value equal to 4; the number after three and before five; two plus two. This many dots (••••)
"There are exactly four apples left in the basket."
The word "four" comes from Old English fēower, which traces back to a common ancestor shared by many European languages. While related words exist in Spanish (cuatro) and French (quatre), the English form evolved independently through the Germanic language family.